Key case



Junell, 1940. B A EU 2,203,830

KEY CASE VFiled Feb. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June l1, 1940 UNITED y STATES PATENT GFFICE l `KEY CASE Bruno `lLLeue, Joplin, Mo., assigner to The l Meeker Company, Inc., Joplin, Mo.`

`Application February 4; `1939, Serial No. 254,579

` 3 Claims. l(ci. 15o- 35) This invention relates to key cases; and has special `reference to a key case having therein4 a` pocket `open at` at least one end for receiving a key or the like, and iiexible means in connection wth the key case for engaging and holding the` key and permitting easy insertion of the key into tached to one end of. the key case and open` toward its attached end` to receive and permit withdrawal of a key; means attached to the key case for engaging and holding a `key in connec-` tion therewith and for supporting the case When the key is within `the lockiforwhich. it is intende` ed;` to provide transparent stiflening walls attached to the inner sidesci the respective Walls of `the key case and having their `adjacent edges separated by a longitudinal space along which` the connected Walls of the key case may'operate when the key case is` opened or closed, and also cooperating with the walls of the key case to form a holder or frame for an automobile registration certicate or drivers` license, or the like.

`1Anotherobject of theinvention is toprovide a main key case or receptacle including a Wall having a" stiil'ening member attached` togthe inner` side thereof and a Wall attached to the outer side of saidrst named` wall and cooperating therewith to form` a pocket adapted to receive and partially enclose an auxiliary or supplemental key case and to retain the `same closed. j Another object of` the invention is toprovide an improved key case that may be opened and closed,`

in combination with a pocket having one end nexiblyattached to the inside of one `end thereof `andadapted to receive theignition key lof an automobile or the like, andhaving its attached endlopen, and means for engaging and holding said adjacent key or the like in connection with `the key case and permitting thesame to be easily inserted into and withdrawn from said pocket, and functioning to support `the key case when theignition keyor the like is within `the lock for which `it is intended. l l

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to. the "an` nexed drawings, in Whichi f i Fig. l is aperspective view ci a key case device made in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2is aside elevation of the main keycase having `a pocket for receiving an auxiliary or supplemantal key case.

Fig. 3 is aiperspective view of the auxiliary or supplemental key case detached from the main key case.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View on the line 4-4 of. Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an inside plan view of the main key Fig. Giis an enlarged perspective view of the auxiliary or supplemental key case and the pocket therein.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the auxiliary or supplemental key case.

Fig. 8 is an open outside plan view of the same.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the blank from which the pocket that is in connection with the auxiliary or supplemental key case is formed.

The auxiliary or supplemental key case comprises a Wall l and a Wall 2 made of leather or other appropriate material. These Walls are of approximately uniform dimensions and are integrally or otherwise connected along one longitudinal edge of. each Wall `by a flexible portion or hinge 3 which permits the walls to be closed as shown in Fig. 3, or opened as shown in Fig. 6. One of these Walls, in this instance the wall 2, has in permanent connection with the edge thereof that is opposite from the hinge 3 an extended tab 4 equipped with a. snap or glove fas* tener element 5so that,` when the key case is closed and the tab 4 is placed against the outer side of the Wall I, the fastener element 5 may be engaged with a cooperating fastener element 6 permanently attached to saidwall I.

Transparent stiiiening walls 'l and 8 are attached to the inner side of the respective Walls land 2 of the key case and have their adjacent edges separated bya longitudinal space 9 (Fig. 6) along which the flexible portion or hinge 3 may` operate when the key case is opened or closed. These transparent walls are preferably of, resilient material, such as Celluloid or isinglass, or other substance possessing the characteristics of transparency and resiliency, so that, `when they are bent, they will normally resume their original straight or flat condition when permitted todo so. The ends of the walls I and 8 are enclosedloy` folded margins lll of the outer walls, and are secured thereto by transverse lines of stitches H passing through said outer Walls and through the Walls'l and 8 and the folded margins I0. This prevents relative sliding movements of any of the Walls of this key case. The intermediate portions of the Walls 'l and 8 `are unattached fil) to the walls I and 2 and cooperate therewith to form a holder or frame adapted to receive and retain an automobile registration certificate, drivers license, or other device I2. As shown, the device I2, which may be a registration certificate, or drivers license, or the like, extends almost the full length and full width of the auxiliary or supplemental key case and across the hinged space, and is flexible, so as not to .interfere with the opening and closing of the case. The device I2 may be slipped into position between the outer walls I and 2 and the inner walls I and 9 from either side edge of the key case; and, in like manner, may bewithdrawn therefrom. Cards or the like may also be slipped into the key case, if desired, between the device I2 and the outer walls I and 2, and retained therein so long as they do not interfere with the facility of opening and closing the key case.

' A pocket I3 has one end open and attached to one end of the key case at the inner side thereof. This pocket may be made from a tapered blank Ar (Fig. 9) having its tapered edges I4 attached by a longitudinal row of stitches I5. The blank includes a relatively wide extended flexibletab I6 attached to one end of the key case by the longitudinal line of stitches II. This tab I6 extends entirely across the flexible hinge portion 3 and the space 9 and substantially along each of the walls I and 2 so that, when said walls I `and 2 are closed, the pocket I3 will be closed; and, when said walls are spread apart to open position, the pocket I 3 will be opened, thereby permittingeasy insertion of the key into the pocket and withclrawal of the same therefrom.

A flexible attaching device I'I in the form of a chain or the like may be extended through a hole I8 formed through the tab I6, the hinge portion 3 and the folded margin I0 to which the tab is secured'and connected in the form of a loop to engage and hold a key in connection with the key case. The walls of the pocket I3 containing the key when the key case is closed prevent the key from marringV the surfaces` of the iiexible walls 'I and 8, and hold the key in proper position within the keycase. When the key case is open and the key is removed from the pocket I3, said pocket may be again closed and .secured in closed position by attaching the tab 4 as described. When the key is inserted in the lock forwhich it is intended, it will support the key casein closed adjustment; and, since the key case is composed of leather or the like, it will not rattle or deface the surface of the rinstrument panel, or other adjacent parts.

The main key case, which also performs the function of partially enclosing and supporting the auxiliary or supplemental key case already v described comprises an outer side wall member I9, a cooperating side wall member 20 forming Athe outer portion of the cooperating wall of the the walls I9 and 29, respectively, and have their adjacent edges separated along the flexible hinge portion 2I. Lines of stitches 2i attach the margin of the lining 22 to the walls I9. and 29 and to the flexible hinge portion 2I, and also attach to the edges of the walls of the key case the flexi- Y ble strips 25 havingengageable andvreleasable fasteners 26 controlled by a slide 21. These fasteners 26 extend from one end of the flexible hinge ZI-tothe opposite end thereof along the edges of the two walls.

A stiffener plate 28 is attached to the inner side of one end of the Wall I9 and its lining by fasteners 29. This stiffener plate 28 extends approximately the width of the wall I9 and supports a number of Vpivoted key hooks 3B, each of which is designed and adapted to be engaged with one lor more keys.

The edge 3| of that portion of the wall 2D that covers the wall I9 terminates in an ornamental fashion substantially below the upper or free edge of the wall I9, as4 clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. This overlapping portion of the wall 20 cooperates with the wall I9 to form a pocket that is designed and adapted to receive the auxiliary key case first herein described. This auxiliary key case is intended to be inserted in this'pocket in the manner `shown in Fig. 4, in which the free edge of the lwalls I and 2 areconned within the pocket, so that this pocket functions to support the auxiliary key case and to cooperate with the tab 4- to hold the same closed. The auxiliary key case is formed to fit closely within the pocket provided by the walls I 9 and 29, so that the frictonal contact of the walls of the auxiliary key case with ther walls of the pocket within which it is connedvwill securely hold the auxiliary key case within said pocket. The plate 28.extends acrossfone end ofthe main key case and functions to prevent improper distortion thereof when the two key cases are assembled together. the auxiliary key case is properly within the pocket between the walls I9 and 29, the fastener is upwardly beyond theedge ofthe wall 29 and does not bend or otherwise distort the wall 2li.y

It should now be apparent that this invention attains all of its intended objects and purposes efficiently and satisfactorily. The construction, arrangement and relationship of the parts may be varied within the scope of equivalent limits without ydeparturefrom the nature and principle thereof. be within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: y

1. A key case comprisingtwo flexible walls, iiexible means connecting said walls along adjacent edges and permitting said walls to be moved to closed position-toward each other and to open position away from each other, means forming a `pocket having an `open end, ancla exible connection attaching the open end of said pocket to one end of said walls and crossing said edges for swinging movements toward and froml each other to` close and to open the key case, flexible transparent walls attached to-the inner sides of said first named walls respectively and having their adjacent edges separated by an intervening .space along said iiexible connection and leaving said walls free to be moved toward and from each other and cooperating with said rst named walls to provide a frame for receiving and holding a flexible card or the like, a flexible device forming a pocket having one end open and adapted to receive a key or the like, and iiexible means attaching said open end of said pocket to When I contemplate such variations as lmay one end of said first named Walls and said connectiorn holding said pocket extended along said connection and leaving the remaining portion of `connection uniting said Walls along adjacent `edgesfor swinging movementstoward and from each other to close and to open the key case, n

exible transparent Walls attached to the inner 4 sides of said rst named Walls respectively and having their adjacentedges separated by an intervening space along said exible connection and `leaving said Walls free to be moved toward and from each other and cooperating `with said iirst named vvallsto provide a frame for receiving and holding a iiexible card or the like, a flexible device forming a pocket having one end open and adapted to receive a key or the like, flexible means attaching said open end of said pocket to one end of said first named Walls and. said connection holding said pocket extended along said connection and leaving the remaining portion of saidpocket unattached to said wallsfor move. ment to position to expose said cardor the like,

`and a flexible connection secured to one end of said key case and said pocket for engaging a key adapted to be inserted into and Withdrawn from l n said pocket;

BRUNO A. LEUE. 

